HR0444 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0444 LRB101 12717 ALS 61451 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Gary Birschbach on his 50 years in business; and

WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach is an owner operator of three McDonald's restaurants in Decatur; he started working for McDonald's as a junior in high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in November of 1969; after working in several levels of management for an owner/operator in Wisconsin, he purchased his first restaurant in Piedmont, Missouri in 1995; he had an opportunity to buy two restaurants in Decatur in 2000; his franchise grew to include seven restaurants in 2007; he sold four of the restaurants in 2009; and

WHEREAS, In his first store, Gary Birschbach tested and implemented an ice cream product for then McDonald's CEO Jack Greenberg; this item was released in the U.S. as the McFlurry three years later; he has held several social functions at the Decatur McDonald's, so the public can interact with social leaders, including "Coffee with a Cop" and "Coffee with the Council"; and

WHEREAS, Since 2005, Gary Birschbach's stores have awarded over $175,000 in tuition assistance and assisted nine employees in enrolling in online high school programs through the McDonald's Archways program; and

WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach serves on several boards, including the Central Illinois Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Executive Board, where he was instrumental in the remodel of the Springfield RMHC House and the Peoria RMHC House that opens in January 2020; he is a member of the St. Mary's Hospital Board of Directors, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, where he is currently serving as president, and the WDCR Catholic Radio Executive Board; he is a Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Member; he previously served on the Pastoral Council of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Decatur, on the Richland Community College Foundation Board, and as a board member and past president of the Easter Seals, where he was honored with the Seal of Excellence Award in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach sponsors many events, including the District 61 New Teacher Breakfast, the Annual Gold Wings Motorcycle Charity Ride, the Annual Decatur Area High School Basketball Turkey Tournament, and the Summer Reading Programs at seven local libraries in Decatur, Forsyth, Argenta, Warrensburg, Oreana, Mt. Zion, and Cerro Gordo; he partners with Decatur dentist Dr. Brown to provide dental care to low-income children; and

WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach has been married to Laura, whom he met at McDonald's, for over 40 years; they have five children and 13 grandchildren; his passions include the McDonald's business, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Green Bay Packers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Gary Birschbach on his 50 years in business and commend his volunteer efforts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Gary Birschbach as an expression of our esteem and respect.